Access Glendale Family Court Records

Glendale family court records are public files held by the Maricopa County Superior Court. The city of Glendale does not have its own family court. All divorce cases, child custody matters, and support orders for Glendale residents go through the county court system. You can search Glendale family court records online through the Maricopa County public access portal. The county Clerk of Superior Court stores these documents at locations in Phoenix, Surprise, and Mesa. Glendale City Court handles traffic and misdemeanor cases only, not family law matters.

Where Glendale Family Cases Are Filed

Glendale residents file family court cases at the Maricopa County Superior Court. The county handles all divorce, custody, and support matters for the city. There is no separate family court in Glendale. Municipal courts in Arizona deal with traffic tickets, city code violations, and some criminal misdemeanors. They do not hear family law cases at all.

The nearest Maricopa County court location for Glendale residents is the Northwest Regional Court Center. It sits at 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane in Surprise. This is about 15 miles from downtown Glendale. The center has a full family court staff and can handle new filings, court hearings, and record requests. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. You can also go to the Central Court Building in Phoenix at 201 W. Jefferson Street if that works better for your schedule.

Glendale City Court at 5711 W. Glendale Ave. does not process family law documents. Staff there cannot help with divorce papers or custody forms. They will refer you to the county court system. The city court phone number is (623) 930-2400 if you have questions about what types of cases they do handle.

Search Glendale Family Court Records Online

The Maricopa County Family Court Case Search lets you find records from home. This free tool covers all family law cases in the county, including those filed by Glendale residents. You can search by party name or case number. Results show basic case details like filing date, case status, and party names. Some documents may be available to view right on the screen.

The statewide Arizona Courts Public Access Portal also includes Maricopa County records. This system connects to courts across the state. It is useful if you are not sure which county has the case you need. Both search tools are free to use. You do not need to create an account or pay any fees just to search.

For help with your search, check the AZ Court Help website. It has guides that explain how to read case records and what different terms mean. The site also has a court finder tool. This shows contact information for any court in Arizona. Use it if you are not sure where to direct your questions.

Glendale Family Court Filing Fees

Glendale residents pay Maricopa County fees for family court filings. The county fee schedule lists all costs. Filing for divorce costs $376.00. This is the same rate whether or not you have children. A summary consent decree, which is a simpler divorce process, costs $331.50. These fees apply when you first file your case with the court.

Other family court fees that Glendale residents may face include a $287.00 charge to file a response to a divorce petition. Legal decision-making petitions cost $306.00. Paternity or maternity filings are $371.00. Orders of protection have no fee at all. If you cannot pay the filing fees, you can ask for a fee waiver. The court will review your income and decide if you qualify for help.

Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies of court records. Certified copies cost an extra $35.00 per document. If court staff must search for records on your behalf, there is a research fee of $35.00 per year searched. Postage and handling add $8.00 to mail requests. You can pay at the clerk window with cash, check, or credit card.

Note: Fees change from time to time, so call the clerk office to verify current costs before you submit payment.

How to Get Glendale Family Court Record Copies

You have three main ways to get copies of family court records as a Glendale resident. In-person visits are the quickest if you need documents right away. Go to the Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court during business hours. The main Customer Service Center is at 601 W. Jackson in Phoenix. The Northwest Regional Court in Surprise is closer to Glendale. Tell the clerk what you need. Give them the case number or party names. Staff will search the system and print copies while you wait.

Mail requests work well if you cannot visit in person. Write a letter to the clerk office with the names of the parties and the approximate date of the case. Include your contact information and a check or money order for the fees. Send it to: Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court, 620 West Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Mail requests take one to two weeks to process. The clerk will mail copies back to you once they are ready.

Online access is growing in Maricopa County. Some case documents can be viewed through the court's public portal. You may be able to print what you need from your computer. For certified copies or sealed documents, you still have to go through the clerk office. Staff can tell you which documents are available online and which require a formal request.

Types of Glendale Family Court Records

Divorce records are what most people request. A Glendale divorce file includes the original petition, the other spouse's response, financial disclosures, and the final decree. The decree ends the marriage. It states the terms for property division, spousal support, and child matters if any. All of these documents become part of the public court record in Maricopa County.

Child custody records use the terms legal decision-making and parenting time in Arizona. Legal decision-making covers who makes major choices for the child about school, health, and religion. Parenting time sets the schedule for when each parent has the child. These records include parenting plans, custody evaluations, and court orders. If parents go back to court to change the plan, those modification filings also become part of the record.

Child support records show the payment amount the court ordered. The Arizona Division of Child Support Services works with the court to collect payments. You can reach them at 602-252-4045 or toll-free at 1-800-882-4151. Support orders include calculations based on both parents' income. Modifications happen when circumstances change. A job loss or a raise can trigger a new support order.

Paternity records establish the legal father of a child. These files may include DNA test results, acknowledgments signed by both parents, or court orders naming the father. Once paternity is established, the court can order support and set up custody rights. Glendale paternity cases go through the Maricopa County Superior Court just like divorce cases.

Legal Help for Glendale Family Court Cases

The Law Library Resource Center helps Glendale residents who handle their own family cases. This is a free service from Maricopa County. Staff can show you where to find forms and explain court procedures. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to write on your forms. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Call (602) 506-7353 for information.

The center offers workshops and webinars on family law topics. Live classes cover things like how to fill out divorce forms and what to expect at a hearing. Recorded videos are online if you miss a live session. Self-help tools on the website walk you through common tasks step by step. This is useful if you have never been to court before and need guidance on the basic process.

Family court forms are available through the Maricopa County Family Court Forms page. You can download these at no cost. Print them at home and fill them out by hand, or type directly into the PDF. Some forms can be filed electronically through the court's e-filing system. Self-represented parties can also file in person if they prefer to hand deliver their papers to the clerk.

Arizona Family Law for Glendale Residents

Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25 covers all family law matters in the state. This includes marriage, divorce, custody, and support. To file for divorce, at least one spouse must have lived in Arizona for 90 days. Glendale residents meet this requirement as long as they have lived in the state that long. You file your case in the county where you or your spouse lives now.

Arizona is a no-fault divorce state. This means you do not have to prove your spouse did something wrong. You just have to state that the marriage is broken and cannot be fixed. The court must wait at least 60 days after service before it can finalize the divorce. This waiting period gives both parties time to work out issues or change their minds.

Arizona is also a community property state. Most assets and debts from the marriage get split equally between spouses. Each person keeps their separate property. This includes things owned before the marriage or received as gifts. The court divides community property fairly. In most Arizona divorce cases, that means a 50/50 split of shared assets and debts.

Nearby Arizona Cities

Several other cities near Glendale also use the Maricopa County Superior Court for family law matters. If you moved recently or your spouse lives in a different city, you may need to check records in another location. Below are major cities close to Glendale where family court cases go through the same county system.

Maricopa County Family Court Resources

For full details on family court procedures, fees, and locations, visit the Maricopa County page. It has contact information for all four regional court centers and links to county forms and search tools.